Jun-A-4
AS WAFFLING AS
PUBLIC AND POLITICAL OPINION
ON THE TENSIONS
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
THE ON/OFF SPITI
TRIP REMAINS---
TENTATIVELY---ON!
From: Himalayan Health Exchange <info@himalayanhealth.com>
Date: 6/1/02 5:42PM
Subject: Still On
Dear Friends,
This is a follow up message sent to you on May 24 based on the travel
advisory warning issued by the US Department of State . Since then, it has
been a roller coaster ride and a day to day thing as far finalizing plans
for our trip are concerned. I have been in constant touch with the Himachal
Pradesh, State Department of Health on the developments taking shape. The
Health officials feed back was on the positive side compared to that of our
media. The Western media reports, combined with the chances of war
escalating into a nuclear confrontation, made us look at all the options.
Recent developments in the past 24 hours following international pressures,
on both Pakistan and India have been very positive with a ‑ 'no to nuclear
weapons use' ‑ statements coming in from both heads of the Governments,
president Mussharaf calling it insane to even think about the use of
nuclear weapons (quite different from what his ambassador to UN said last
week) and the Indian Government's policy of no first use of nuclear
weapons. US Defense Secretary Mr. Donald Rumsfeld's visit to the region
next week will further ease tensions. Weighing all the negatives and
safety concerns, in spite of the travel advisory warning, I feel confident
enough to keep our plans in place and not postpone our trip as of now.
I considered the following factors and discussed with our advisors Dr.
Glenn Geelhoed, Deborah Szymanski and Dr. William Norton before coming to
this decision. They will be accompanying us for the trip.
1) An overwhelming majority of those team members I've spoken with still
want to proceed as planned;
2) Statements coming from the heads of Pakistan and India on no use of
nuclear weapons; (which was my main concern)
3) Safety of the region;
4) Similar travel warning issued by the US embassy in India to US citizens
already there, not to travel to five states in India, the warning does not
include our state HIMACHAL PRADESH
5) My personal knowledge of the region
Please take time to think it over the weekend and if you have any
reservations, let me know. Feel free to call me during the weekend.
Ravi I Singh
404‑929‑9399